Portfolio — KathyTanguay.com

“Peyton’s Peonies”, Acrylic, 30” x 24”, 2012

“Jackson is Ready to Snuggle and Read”, Acrylic, 12” x 9”, 2023

“Peyton Painting a Peony”, Acrylic, 28” x 22", 2010

“Fireflies”, Mixed Media, 6’ x 4 ½ ’, 2017 This painting was inspired by the gardenia tree on my back deck. For those of you who don't know, gardenia's smell amazing and have no thorns. Amongst other things, I used a 12" painting spatula when painting this, which I found to be exhilarating! When I thought I had finished the painting, my youngest daughter said to me, "Mommy...you need to use these" and reached out her hand with rhinestones she had gotten at Christmas time. Rhinestones weren't really part of my plan so I had to give this some thought. I added five rhinestones to the center of the flower like dew drops representing Jason, our children and myself. Then I decided to incorporate the rest into "Fireflies". When I say "Fireflies", I am referring to the moments in our lives that we cherish. Notice in the detail images that all but one of the "Fireflies" have a light halo around them. The one with a dark halo represents a situation that you originally thought was going to be awful, but turned out to be an amazing experience! It is a reminder to try be positive when life gives you a curve ball or something that wasn't part of your original plan. Looking back on your life, what would you say were your "Fireflies"?

“Fireflies” Detail, Mixed Media, 6’ x 4 ½ ’, 2017

“Friday Night Popcorn”, Acrylic, 54” x 36”, 2013 Popcorn started out as a very planned and calculated painting to encapsulate my typical Friday night. As a mom of three young children most Friday nights these days consists of a Disney movie and popcorn prepared by the best popcorn maker I know, my daughter Peyton. (Not quite what my Friday nights were 10 years ago.) But, as I continued the painting, it started to encapsulate more than I had originally planned. This painting includes the inhibitions that Friday night gifts us, all of us. I chose to live and relish in the paint drippings as well as in the play of color and freedom that only Friday night can offer. It is when so much life actually happens and memories are made. Anything is possible on a Friday night. No other night can claim to come close. Here’s to Friday nights!